She Is Now “The Spare”

There has always been pressure on the reigning monarch and her successors to produce “an heir” and “a spare”, i.e. an heir to the throne and another child to be “the spare” if anything should happen to the heir.Diana, The Princess of Wales, obediently produced two boys, William and Harry.  William was the heir (after his father, of course) and Harry was “the spare”.  When William and Catherine produced George, he became the heir (after his grand father and then father) and Harry stayed “the spare”.  BUT, when this darling little girl was born on Saturday, she became “the spare” and Harry went down one slot.

There have not been that many incidences when “the spare” has actually had to be on the throne but there have been a few.  The following article taken from London’s Daily Telegraph outlines who those people were:

George VI, previously Prince Albert of York
The most recent of the six Dukes of Yorks (usually a second son becomes the Duke of York) to become King. The Queen’s father, the shy, stammering Prince Albert was thrust into the spotlight when his older brother, Edward VIII, suddenly abdicated. He died, aged 56, the last emperor of India, and is credited with restoring the popularity of the monarchy after the exploits of his older brother.  (The King’s Speech is a great flick if you have not seen it.  It is the story of how this happened.)

James II, formerly the Duke of York
The last Roman Catholic King — and maybe Britain’s most unpopular king as well — succeeded his brother, Charles II. The key problem was not his conversion to Catholicism, but his increasing antagonism toward the established church. His fondness for a large standing army was also deemed profoundly un-British.

Charles I, formerly the Duke of York
The only British monarch to have his head chopped off by his own people. The second son of King James I became heir to the throne on the death of his elder brother Henry Frederick. Charles had 13 years to prepare himself for the job, but he still managed to make a hash of it, starting the Civil War that led to his execution.

Henry VIII, formerly the Duke of York
The third child of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, following Arthur, Prince of Wales and Margaret. Became heir after Arthur died at the age of 15 and married his brother’s wife — the first of six he wed in pursuit of a son, Edward VI. He never managed a male spare, producing daughters Mary and Elizabeth.

This video report from CNN gives further info you might enjoy:

We look forward to hearing and sharing more Royal news.  Yes, love, joy and abundance!